NUCLEAR: Reports show if South Carolina’s Summer nuclear plant expansion is completed, state utility Santee Cooper will have far more energy capacity than it needs and customers will likely see a spike in power bills should the project continue. (The State)

COAL:
• Officials worked to address the Kemper “clean coal” plant’s delays and overruns, but in the end had to “draw a line in the sand” and terminate the project. (SNL Energy)
• The Sierra Club wants federal energy regulators to reconsider an emergency order that would allow a Dominion Energy plant in Virginia that violates air quality standards to operate if necessary to meet summer demand. (Daily Press)
• U.S. coal exports were higher in early 2017 as a result of increased demand in Asia and Europe. (Associated Press)
• President Trump’s promises to revive the coal industry is keeping miners from changing careers. (Bloomberg)

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WIND: The Department of Energy will study the potential for offshore wind development in the Gulf of Mexico. (Offshore Wind Journal)

SOLAR:
• North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center’s 50 States of Solar report shows utilities are pushing for rates that would discourage customer adoption of solar. (PV Magazine)• Ratepayers are footing much of the bill for a utility trade association that has pushed for polices hostile to rooftop solar. (Midwest Energy News)
• Some in South Miami, including representatives from local builders’ groups, are criticizing the city’s mandate that all newly constructed homes have solar panels. (Miami Herald)

COAL ASH:
• North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper says new rules regulating coal ash contaminants in the water are not final. (WBTV)
• A timeline beginning in 2014 details North Carolina officials’ response to coal ash safety issues related to residents’ well water. (WRAL)
• Department of Environmental Protection officials have asked federal regulators to approve a change to the way West Virginia’s water pollution limits are calculated. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)

FOSSIL FUELS: A new study from Duke University shows the burning of fossil fuels is linked to negative effects on cardiovascular health. (Blue Ridge Public Radio)

PIPELINES: The U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding Louisiana more than $1 million for its pipeline safety programs. (KSLA News 12)

CLIMATE: The city of St. Petersburg, Florida, is giving away free tickets to a screening of Al Gore’s “Inconvenient Truth” sequel to “educate and inspire” residents to take action against climate change. (SaintPetersBlog)

COMMENTARY: North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper should raise water-safety standards in an effort to protect residents from coal ash contamination, just as he promised when campaigning for office. (Winston-Salem Journal)